--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He has the right to criticize who has the…" description: "\"He has the right to criticize who has the heart to help\" — Abraham Lincoln" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/312/abraham-lincoln-88_criticize_he-has-the-right-to-criticize-who-has-th_2244253.png" --- # He has the right to criticize who has the heart to help ![“He has the right to criticize who has the heart to help” quote by Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/312/abraham-lincoln-88_criticize_he-has-the-right-to-criticize-who-has-th_2244253.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/312/abraham-lincoln-88_criticize_he-has-the-right-to-criticize-who-has-th_2244253.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/312/abraham-lincoln-88_criticize_he-has-the-right-to-criticize-who-has-th_2244253.png) > “He has the right to criticize who has the heart to help” [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. One can critique others only if they possess genuine intent to help, linking criticism with compassion. **In simple terms:** Criticism is okay when rooted in care. Key Takeaway Offer constructive feedback with empathy. Themes criticism compassion leadership ethics Mood thoughtful serious Type ethical motivational When to use this quote - team management - mentoring - public debate Key Concepts moral responsibility empathetic discourse Questions to Reflect On - When is criticism helpful? - How to balance honesty and kindness? A Different Perspective Criticism can be misinterpreted as hostility. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Criticize](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criticize/) [Criticize Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criticize-heart-3646022/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Heart Help](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart-help-347545/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Right Criticize](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-criticize-258588/) ## Related quotes > [He has a right to criticize, who has a heart to help.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/he-has-a-right-to-criticize-who-has-a-heart-to-help/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [“They have a Right to censure, that have a Heart to help: The rest is Cruelty, not Justice. (Frequently misquoted as "He has a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-penn/they-have-a-right-to-censure-that-have-a-heart-to-help-the-rest-is/) [William Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-penn/) > [People have a right to criticize.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luciano-pavarotti/people-have-a-right-to-criticize/) [Luciano Pavarotti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luciano-pavarotti/) > [I’m a Muslim, we come from a Muslim community and we are very critical of western or American foreign policy. So if I’ve got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maajid-nawaz/i-m-a-muslim-we-come-from-a-muslim-community-and-we-are-very-critical/) [Maajid Nawaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maajid-nawaz/) > [I can imagine no greater disservice to the country than to establish a system of censorship that would deny to the people of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/i-can-imagine-no-greater-disservice-to-the-country-than-to-establish/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [I love America more than any other country in the world, and, exactly for this reason, I insist on the right to criticize her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-love-america-more-than-any-other-country-in-the-world-and-exactly/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“People have the right to criticize you. You do not have the right to criticize anyone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/people-have-the-right-to-criticize-you-you-do-not-have-the-right-to/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [No one has the right to criticize you for how your body looks, but they will. One thing I've learned from experiencing this exact…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-swift/no-one-has-the-right-to-criticize-you-for-how-your-body-looks-but/) [Taylor Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-swift/) > [My heart is to help hurting people. I teach people God's Word so they can overcome their problems and avoid some of the tough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/my-heart-is-to-help-hurting-people-i-teach-people-god-s-word-so-they/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [Pay mind to your own life, your own health, and wholeness. 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And it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-have-a-good-heart-you-help-too-much-you-trust-too-much-you-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A good heart will help you to a bonny face, my lad and a bad one will turn the bonniest into something worse than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-bronte/a-good-heart-will-help-you-to-a-bonny-face-my-lad-and-a-bad-one-will/) [Emily Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-bronte/) > [When you have given from your heart to help out a friend and they make it a point to take continuously never choosing to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-higgins/when-you-have-given-from-your-heart-to-help-out-a-friend-and-they/) [Rebecca Higgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-higgins/) > [They have a right to censure that have a heart to help.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-penn/they-have-a-right-to-censure-that-have-a-heart-to-help/) [William Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-penn/) > [It was in my heart to help a little because I was helped much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/it-was-in-my-heart-to-help-a-little-because-i-was-helped-much/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) ## More by Abraham Lincoln > [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [ Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then \[these?\],… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in-england-in-1624-and-in-this/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel Mother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/all-that-i-am-or-ever-hope-to-be-i-owe-to-my-angel-mother/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [While the people retain their virtue and vigilance, no administration, by any extreme of wickedness or folly, can very seriously injure the government in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/while-the-people-retain-their-virtue-and-vigilance-no-administration/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [I could not have slept tonight if I had left that helpless little creature to perish on the ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-could-not-have-slept-tonight-if-i-had-left-that-helpless-little/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Let us at all times remember that all American citizens are brothers of a common country, and should dwell together in bonds of fraternal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/let-us-at-all-times-remember-that-all-american-citizens-are-brothers/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [If you wish to be a lawyer, attach no consequence to the place you are in, or the person you are with; but get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/if-you-wish-to-be-a-lawyer-attach-no-consequence-to-the-place-you-are/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [As we keep or break the Sabbath Day we nobly save or meanly lose the last best hope by which man rises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/as-we-keep-or-break-the-sabbath-day-we-nobly-save-or-meanly-lose-the/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Tell the truth and you won't have so much to remember](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/tell-the-truth-and-you-won-t-have-so-much-to-remember/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [With high hope for the future, no prediction is ventured.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/with-high-hope-for-the-future-no-prediction-is-ventured/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [We know, Southern men declare that their slaves are better off than hired laborers amongst us. How little they know, whereof they speak! There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/we-know-southern-men-declare-that-their-slaves-are-better-off-than/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [I am glad to see that a system of labor prevails under which laborers can strike when they want to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-am-glad-to-see-that-a-system-of-labor-prevails-under-which-laborers/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [I don't like that man. I must get to know him better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-don-t-like-that-man-i-must-get-to-know-him-better/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [In this sad world of ours, sorrow comes to all; and to the young, it comes with bitterest agony because it takes them unawares.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/in-this-sad-world-of-ours-sorrow-comes-to-all-and-to-the-young-it/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [The man does not live who is more devoted to peace than I am. None who would do more to preserve it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/the-man-does-not-live-who-is-more-devoted-to-peace-than-i-am-none-who/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) [Explore all 1,437 Abraham Lincoln quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) ## More Criticize quotes > [When I passed the Chancellor he arose, waved his hand at me, and I waved back at him. I think the writers showed bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-owens/when-i-passed-the-chancellor-he-arose-waved-his-hand-at-me-and-i/) [Jesse Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-owens/) > [Lavish praise on people and people will flourish; criticize people and they'll shrivel up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/lavish-praise-on-people-and-people-will-flourish-criticize-people-and/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [For some reason, we are truly convinced that if we criticize ourselves, the criticism will lead to change. If we are harsh, we believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geneen-roth/for-some-reason-we-are-truly-convinced-that-if-we-criticize-ourselves/) [Geneen Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geneen-roth/) > [You can criticize Trump and his wealth all day long, but you can't say he hasn't worked. You can say that about the Clintons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/you-can-criticize-trump-and-his-wealth-all-day-long-but-you-can-t-say/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [If our aim is to praise, we should forget to criticize; if our aim is to criticize, we should remember to praise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/if-our-aim-is-to-praise-we-should-forget-to-criticize-if-our-aim-is/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Those who lack the confidence and esteem to make the decisions that they need to make for themselves, are usually the same ones who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/those-who-lack-the-confidence-and-esteem-to-make-the-decisions-that/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The privilege of prayer to me is one of the most cherished possessions, because faith and experience alike convince me that God himself sees…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilfred-grenfell/the-privilege-of-prayer-to-me-is-one-of-the-most-cherished/) [Wilfred Grenfell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilfred-grenfell/) > [We are all too keenly aware that those of you who supported us by purchasing the 3DS in the beginningmay feel betrayed and criticize…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/satoru-iwata/we-are-all-too-keenly-aware-that-those-of-you-who-supported-us-by/) [Satoru Iwata](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/satoru-iwata/) > [Woody Allen is a genius. His films are wonderful. He's poetic, but he's also a critic. He artfully steps back from a social setting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-brooks/woody-allen-is-a-genius-his-films-are-wonderful-he-s-poetic-but-he-s/) [Mel Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-brooks/) > [Men can be divided into 2 groups: one that goes ahead and achieves something, and one that comes after and criticizes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/men-can-be-divided-into-2-groups-one-that-goes-ahead-and-achieves/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [If you don't allow people to contribute, to offer their point of view, or to criticize what has been put before them, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/if-you-don-t-allow-people-to-contribute-to-offer-their-point-of-view/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [There's plenty to criticize about the mass media, but they are the source of regular information about a wide range of topics. 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That is, a lot of the things that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-kay/when-i-first-prepared-this-particular-talk-i-realized-that-my-usual/) [Alan Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-kay/) [Browse all 1,182 Criticize quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criticize/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "He has the right to criticize who has the heart to help", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Abraham Lincoln" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/he-has-the-right-to-criticize-who-has-the-heart-to-help/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Criticize" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/he-has-the-right-to-criticize-who-has-the-heart-to-help/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/312/abraham-lincoln-88_criticize_he-has-the-right-to-criticize-who-has-th_2244253.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/312/abraham-lincoln-88_criticize_he-has-the-right-to-criticize-who-has-th_2244253.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/312/abraham-lincoln-88_criticize_he-has-the-right-to-criticize-who-has-th_2244253.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“He has the right to criticize who has the heart to help” — Abraham Lincoln", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Abraham Lincoln", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "He has the right to criticize...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/he-has-the-right-to-criticize-who-has-the-heart-to-help/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/he-has-the-right-to-criticize-who-has-the-heart-to-help/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```